Desk, in Particular Pupil Desk

ABSTRACT

A desk, in particular a pupil desk, has a desk top and a desk frame. The desk frame has two lateral C underframes that are respectively disposed below the desk top and respectively have two desk legs that are interconnected via a connecting section. The two lateral C underframes are respectively disposed laterally outside the desk top, and their two desk legs continuously diverge in the direction away from the desk top, at least in an end region averted from the desk top, such that the desk can be stacked easily and in a space saving fashion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuing application, under 35 U.S.C. § 120, of copending international application No. PCT/EP2006/009096, filed Sep. 19, 2006, which designated the United States.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a desk, in particular a pupil desk.

In the case of desks and, in particular, also in the case of pupil desks, there is the need to be able to stack these as space-savingly as possible for the purposes of storage and transportation. In schools, the pupil desks and chairs frequently need to be put to the side or transported into other classrooms when, for example, events are planned in the classrooms.

For this reason, conventional pupil desks are configured, for example, with a desk top and a unipartite or multipartite desk frame that is fastened on the desk top via a hinge joint or the like. If required, the desk frames can thus be folded together against the underside of the desk top and then stacked flat upon one another. This enables options for storing and transporting the pupil desks that save a great deal of space. However, there is a need for an articulated joint between desk frame and desk top that reliably prevents the desk from being inadvertently folded together. Stacking the desks requires the additional operation of folding the desks together, and this is relatively complicated in part and also entails a certain risk of injury in the case of some configurations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a desk, in particular pupil desk that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art devices of this general type, which enables a number of desks to be stacked simply and in a space saving fashion in conjunction with a simple configuration.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a stackable desk. The stackable desk contains a desk top, and a desk frame having two identical lateral C underframes respectively disposed below the desk top and respectively each having a connecting section and two desk legs interconnected by the connecting section. The two identical lateral C underframes are respectively disposed laterally outside the desk top. The two desk legs include a rear desk leg respectively inclined rearward to a vertical in a direction away from the desk top, and a front desk leg respectively inclined forward to the vertical in the direction away from the desk top such that the two desk legs of the lateral C underframes respectively continuously diverge in a direction away from the desk top at least in an end region averted from the desk top.

Since the two lateral C underframes of the desk frame are respectively disposed laterally outside the desk top, and their two desk legs diverge continuously in the direction away from the desk top, at least in their end region averted from the desk top, a number of such desks can be stacked on one another in a simple and space-saving fashion by virtue of the fact that the lateral C underframes of the desks disposed one above another interlock at least partially laterally outside their desk tops. Since, furthermore, the desk frame is connected to the desk top not via an articulated joint but rigidly, the desk additionally achieves high stability in conjunction with a very simple configuration, and avoids an additional operation of folding together when stacking the desks.

In one refinement of the invention, the two desk legs of the lateral C underframes continuously diverge substantially over the entire length in the direction away from the desk top. The stacking height of the desks can be greatly reduced in this way.

In a further refinement of the invention, at least one distance piece that is disposed in the plane of the respective lateral C underframe is provided on each of the two lateral C underframes. It is easily possible to use such a distance piece to the effect that a number of desks are stacked upon one another substantially vertically even when the desk legs of a lateral C underframe have different angles to the desk top.

In a further refinement of the invention, the two lateral C underframes are interconnected via at least one crossbar in the transverse direction of the desk, and the desk frame with the two lateral C underframes and the at least one crossbar is integrally constructed or connected (for example welded). Stability of the desk frame is greatly increased in this way.

In yet a further refinement of the invention, provided below the desk top is a box that is configured to be open to the user side of the desk, and, by way of example, an exchangeable insert for variable intended uses is disposed in the box (for example book tray according to European or US standards). The desk can be adapted universally and without any problems for the respective purpose of use because of the standard box below the desk top and because of the exchangeable individual inserts. In addition, the box below the desk top automatically determines the stacking height of the desk.

In the case of this embodiment of the desk, the box is supported below the desk top by two crossbars that interconnect the lateral C underframes of the desk frame in the transverse direction of the desk, and these two crossbars of the desk frame for supporting the box are preferably disposed above the lower edge of the box such that the crossbars do not impede the stacking of the desks. Furthermore, the underside of the box, averted from the desk top, is preferably configured or provided with an antiskid property in order to protect the desk top of a lower desk during stacking.

The box below the desk top can optionally be configured integrally with or be connected to the desk top or the desk frame. Consequently, the final assembly of the desk is facilitated owing to the achievement of a high degree of prefabrication with few individual parts.

In one refinement, the lateral C underframes (over the desk frame) are rigidly connected to the desk top, and so the desk is produced with high stability.

In an alternative refinement of the invention, the lateral C underframes can be moved relative to the desk top in the transverse direction of the desk between a laterally pulled-out stacking position outside the desk top and a pushed-in position of use inside the desk top, it preferably being possible to fix the lateral C underframes in their stacking position and in their position of use. It is thereby possible to set up the desks close to one another in their position of use of the lateral C underframes, and to stack them space-savingly in their stacking position of the lateral C underframes.

In yet a further refinement of the invention, the end, averted from the desk top, of at least one desk leg is provided with a furniture glider, such that the respective floor covering is treated gently.

In this case, at least one of the furniture gliders further has an integral distance piece that is arranged in the plane of the respective lateral C underframe. Like the abovementioned distance piece, this integral distance piece supports reliable stacking of a number of desks exactly one above another.

In a further refinement of the invention, the ends, averted from the desk top, of the desk legs of at least one lateral C underframe are respectively provided with a caster, the casters preferably being configured and disposed to move the desk exclusively in its transverse direction. The desk can very easily be displaced with a low outlay of force owing to these measures.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is further provided, in accordance with the invention, a stackable desk. The stackable desk contains a desk top and a desk frame having two identical lateral C underframes disposed below the desk top and each having a connecting section and two desk legs interconnected by the connecting section. The two identical lateral C underframes are disposed laterally outside the desk top. The two desk legs of the two identical lateral C underframes respectively continuously diverge in a direction away from the desk top at least in an end region averted from the desk top. Two crossbars interconnects the two identical lateral C underframe. A box is disposed below the desk top. The box is configured to be open to a user side of the desk and carried by the two crossbars that interconnect the two identical lateral C underframes of the desk frame in a transverse direction of the desk and is disposed above a lower edge of the box.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is additionally provided, in accordance with the invention, a stackable desk. The stackable desk contains a desk top and a desk frame having two identical lateral C underframes disposed below the desk top and each having a connecting section and two desk legs interconnected by the connecting section. The two identical lateral C underframes are respectively disposed laterally outside the desk top. The two desk legs of the two identical lateral C underframes respectively continuously diverge in a direction away from the desk top at least in an end region averted from the desk top. The two identical lateral C underframes can be moved relative to the desk top in a transverse direction of the desk between a laterally pulled-out stacking position outside the desk top and a pushed-in position of use inside the desk top.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a desk, in particular a pupil desk, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, side view of a desk in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic, rear view of the desk of FIG. 1 from the side averted from a user;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic, plan view of the desk of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic, side view of a number of desks of FIG. 1 stacked on one another.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to FIGS. 1-4 thereof, there is shown a preferred embodiment of a pupil desk. Here, FIG. 1 shows the pupil desk schematically from the side; FIG. 2 schematically from the rear; and FIG. 3 schematically from above. FIG. 4 illustrates the stacking of a number of such pupil desks one above another in a side view.

The pupil desk contains a desk top 10, for example made from wood or from plastic, and a desk frame, for example made from steel or another dimensionally stable material. The desk frame has two lateral C underframes 14 that are respectively constructed from a front desk leg 16, a rear desk leg 18 and a connecting section 20 that connects these. The two lateral C underframes 14 are, furthermore, integrally interconnected via a number (three, in this exemplary embodiment) of crossbars 22, 24, 26 in the transverse direction of the desk (for example welding), such that a dimensionally stable desk frame for supporting the desk top 10 is produced.

As is to be seen particularly well from FIG. 2, the lateral C underframes 14 are disposed, on the one hand, below the desk top 10 (that is to say the connecting section 20 is disposed deeper than the desk top 10) and, on the other hand, in the transverse direction of the desk outside the desk top 10. Furthermore, the front and the rear desk legs 16, 18 of the lateral C underframe 14 diverge in the direction away from the desk top 10, at least in the end region averted from the desk top 10. As is to be seen in FIG. 1, in the present exemplary embodiment the two desk legs 16, 18 diverge substantially over their entire length in the direction away from the desk top 10 such that the desks can be more closely stacked, as is explained later with the aid of FIG. 4.

Furthermore, FIG. 1 shows that the two desk legs 16, 18 of a lateral C underframe 14 have different angles relative to the desk top 10. The reason for this is, in particular, the leg freedom required of pupil desks by the pupils. Since this fundamentally involves the risk that the desks are not disposed exactly vertically one above another when being stacked, but “migrate rearward”, there is provided on each lateral C underframe 14 at least one distance piece 28 that is aligned inside the structural plane of the respective lateral C underframe 14. The distance piece 28 is, for example, permanently mounted on a desk leg 16, 18 and preferably projects inward (FIG. 1) or, alternatively, outward. The end face averted from the respective desk leg 16, 18 preferably has a cutout that corresponds to the external shape of a desk leg 16, 18, in order to hold the desk leg 16, 18 of the neighboring desk in the stack, and to fix its position easily, as illustrated in FIG. 4, which is explained later.

At their lower ends averted from the desk top 10, the desk legs 16, 18 of the lateral C underframes 14 preferably have a furniture glider 30 and 32, respectively, in order to treat the floor covering gently when the desk slips. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the furniture glider 32 of the rear desk leg 18 has an integral distance piece 34 that projects inward. The integral distance piece 34 of the rear furniture glider 32 holds the rear desk leg 18 of neighboring desks of a stack at a distance, and so the entire stack of desks is stabilized (see FIG. 4, which is explained further below).

As may best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, there is fitted below the desk top 10 a box 36 whose dimensions are indicated by dots and dashes in the illustration of FIG. 3. The box 36 is open at least to the user side, or front side, of the desk (on the right in FIG. 1 and below in FIG. 3). The other three sides of the box 36 are at least partially closed in general. In this case, the side walls of the box are, for example, provided with cutouts 37 or design features of this type.

The box 36 is, for example, produced from plastic (for example by injection molding), and serves as a standard holder for individual inserts 38 for variable intended uses. Thus, the insert 38 can, for example, form a book tray that is disposed below the desk top 10 at different levels, depending on the respective national standard. Likewise, a device for suspending a pupil desk with its seating surface below the desk top 10 is conceivable as the insert 38. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not restricted only to the inserts 38 expressly mentioned here.

The box 36 below the desk top 10 furthermore determines the stack level of the desk (see FIG. 4, which is described later). Since the box 36 with its underside averted from the desk top 10 comes to lie in a stack of the desks on the top side of the desk top 10 of a desk disposed therebelow, this underside is advantageously configured or provided with an antiskid property (for example coating, covering, etc.). The top sides of the desk tops 10 are protected in this way against being scratched when the desks are being stacked.

In order not to impede stacking of the desks, the upper crossbars of the desk frame, that is to say the second crossbar 24 and the third crossbar 26, are advantageously disposed such that they lie above the lower edge of the box 36 below the desk top 10. As explained below, the second and the third crossbars 24, 26 of the desk frame serve furthermore to support the box 36 and thus the desk top 10.

In one embodiment of the invention, the box 36 is of integrated with the desk top 10. The desk therefore has a high degree of prefabrication with only two components, specifically the desk top 10 with box 36, on the one hand, and the desk frame with the lateral C underframes 14 and the crossbars 22, 24, 26, on the other hand, as a result of which the final assembly of the desk is very simple. For example, the desk top 10 with the box 36 can first be mounted from the rear onto the second crossbar 24, the second crossbar 24 being guided and held in a corresponding cutout in the box 36. Subsequently, the desk top 10 is tilted forward until the box 36 also rests on the third crossbar 26 of the desk frame, the third crossbar 26 likewise being guided and held in a corresponding longitudinal cutout in the box 36. Finally, the box 36 is fixed on the third crossbar 26, for example with the aid of two screws. The cutout of the box 36 for the second crossbar 24 of the desk frame is shaped in this case so as to reliably prevent the rear side of the desk top 10 from folding up when, for example, a user sits on its front edge.

The stacking of the abovedescribed pupil desks will now be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 4.

In order to stack a number of pupil desks configured as explained above, there is no need to change the shape of the latter, as is the case, for example, with conventional desks having a desk frame that can be folded together. This substantially simplifies the operation of stacking the desks.

A desk can simply be pushed onto a lower desk from the rear side (on the left in FIGS. 1 and 4) with the aid of a tilting movement, without the need to lift the desk through its entire height over the lower desk.

Even when the desk legs 16, 18 of a lateral C underframe 14 have different angles to the desk top 10, it can be ensured that the desks lie substantially vertically above one another without “migrating rearward”, as illustrated in FIG. 4. In the stack, the desks lie with the underside of the box 36 provided on their desk top 10 on the desk top 10 of the desk lying therebelow. The vertical alignment of the desks is attained by the distance pieces 28 on the desk frame, which push the respective upper desk to the front side. Furthermore, the stack is stabilized by the distance pieces 34 integrated in the rear furniture gliders 32.

The advantages of the above described desk in accordance with the invention are, in particular, as follows:

-   -   a) the desk has a very simple configuration with relatively few         components;     -   b) the desk has a high degree of prefabrication with few         components, and enables simple final assembly;     -   c) the desk has a high dimensional stability (since, for         example, there are no articulated connections between desk top         and desk frame); and     -   d) the desk can be stacked simply and in a space-saving fashion.

Although the present invention has been described in detail above with the aid of the currently preferred embodiment, it is self evident that a person skilled in the art can undertake various changes and modifications to it without departing from the scope of protection of the invention as defined in the dependent claims.

In the above exemplary embodiment, the lateral C underframes 14 are fastened rigidly via the desk frame on the desk top 10 or the box 36. However, it is also possible as an alternative to provide a configuration such that the lateral C underframes 14 can be moved relative to the desk top 10 in the transverse direction of the desk between a laterally pulled-out stacking position outside the desk top (corresponding to the configuration of the above exemplary embodiment) and a pushed-in position of use inside the desk top. It is then possible to stack the desks in the stacking position of their lateral C underframes 14 in a simple and space-saving fashion and, moreover, to set them up very close to one another in the position of use of their lateral C underframes 14.

In this embodiment, it should respectively preferably be possible to fix the lateral C underframes in their stacking position and in their position of use. The displacement movement of the lateral C underframes 14 can be achieved, for example, by a telescopic construction of the crossbars 22, 24, 26.

In the case of the embodiment described above with the aid of FIGS. 1 to 3, on the one hand the desk top 10 and the box 36 were of integral design and, on the other hand, the desk frame with lateral C underframes 14 and crossbars 22, 24, 26 was of integral design. In one variant of the invention, it is also possible to provide the desk top 10 separately, and to design and preassemble the box 36 integrally on the desk frame, such that, once again, only two components are present for final assembly. In this case, the second and the third crossbars 24, 26 can also respectively run only up to the side walls of the box 36 and be screwed to the latter there. It follows that only relatively short crossbars 24, 26 are required.

Furthermore, the lower ends of the desk legs 16, 18 of the lateral C underframes 14 can be provided not only with furniture gliders 30, 32. For example, it is also possible to fit casters on the lower ends of the desk legs 16, 18 of at least one lateral C underframe 14, so that the desk can easily be displaced without a large expenditure of force. These casters are preferably configured and disposed in this case such that they permit the desk to be moved only in its transverse direction, and so the desk is more stably positioned when in use. Moreover, the casters can preferably be fixed.

The present invention can fundamentally be applied to desks of arbitrary height. Typical desk heights for pupil desks are here in the range between 530 mm and 820 mm. The rear desk legs 18 of the lateral C underframes 14 are inclined, for example at an angle of from approximately 5° to approximately 15°, preferably approximately 7° to approximately 12°, to the vertical, while the front desk legs 16 of the lateral C underframes 14 are, for example, inclined at an angle of from approximately 20° to approximately 35°, preferably approximately 25° to approximately 31° to the vertical, thus producing an aperture angle between the two desk legs 16, 18 of a lateral C underframe in the range from approximately 30° to approximately 45°, preferably from approximately 33° to approximately 41.5°. These measures are, of course, only exemplary data and can be varied depending on application and, in particular, also on the size of the desk top 10.

Whereas the invention has been explained in detail above with the aid of the example of a pupil desk, the present invention is, of course, not restricted thereto. The invention can also be applied in a similar way to other types of desk such as writing-desks and the like. 

1. A stackable desk, comprising: a desk top; and a desk frame having two identical lateral C underframes respectively disposed below said desk top and respectively each have a connecting section and two desk legs interconnected by said connecting section, said two identical lateral C underframes are respectively disposed laterally outside said desk top, said two desk legs include a rear desk leg respectively inclined rearward to a vertical in a direction away from said desk top, and a front desk leg respectively inclined forward to the vertical in the direction away from said desk top such that said two desk legs of said lateral C underframes respectively continuously diverge in a direction away from said desk top at least in an end region averted from said desk top.
 2. The desk according to claim 1, wherein said two desk legs of said two identical lateral C underframes continuously diverge substantially over an entire length in the direction away from said desk top.
 3. The desk according to claim 1, further comprising distance pieces, at least one of said distances pieces is disposed in a plane of a respective one of said two lateral C underframes.
 4. The desk according to claim 1, further comprising at least one crossbar interconnecting said two identical lateral C underframes in a transverse direction of the desk.
 5. The desk according to claim 4, wherein said desk frame with said two identical lateral C underframes and said at least one crossbar is integrally designed or connected.
 6. The desk according to claim 1, further comprising a box disposed below said desk top, said box configured to be open to a user side of the desk.
 7. The desk according to claim 6, further comprising an exchangeable insert for variable intended uses is disposed in said box below said desk top.
 8. The desk according to claim 6, wherein said desk frame has two crossbars interconnecting said two identical lateral C underframes in a transverse direction of the desk, said box is supported below said desk top by said two crossbars.
 9. The desk according to claim 8, wherein said two crossbars of said desk frame for supporting said box are disposed above a lower edge of said box.
 10. The desk according to claim 6, wherein said box has an underside, averted from said desk top, configured with an antiskid property.
 11. The desk according to claim 6, wherein said box is one of integrally with said desk top and connected to said desk top.
 12. The desk according to claim 6, wherein said box is configured one of integrally with said desk frame and connected to said desk frame.
 13. The desk according to claim 1, wherein said two identical lateral C underframes are rigidly connected to said desk top.
 14. The desk according to claim 1, wherein said two identical lateral C underframes can be moved relative to said desk top in a transverse direction of the desk between a laterally pulled-out stacking position outside said desk top and a pushed-in position of use inside said desk top.
 15. The desk according to claim 14, wherein said two identical lateral C underframes can be fixed in a stacking position and in a position of use.
 16. The desk according to claim 1, further comprising a furniture glider having an integral distance piece disposed in a plane of a respective said lateral C underframe; and wherein said desk legs have ends averted from said desk top, at least one of said ends of said desk legs is provided with said furniture glider that has said integral distance piece.
 17. The desk according to claim 1, further comprising casters; and wherein said desk legs have ends averted from said desk top, said ends of said desk legs of at least one of said two identical lateral C underframes are provided with said casters to move the desk exclusively in a transverse direction.
 18. The desk according to claim 1, wherein the desk is a pupil desk.
 19. A stackable desk, comprising: a desk top; a desk frame having two identical lateral C underframes disposed below said desk top and each having a connecting section and two desk legs interconnected by said connecting section, said two identical lateral C underframes disposed laterally outside said desk top, said two desk legs of said two identical lateral C underframes respectively continuously diverge in a direction away from said desk top at least in an end region averted from said desk top; two crossbars interconnecting said two identical lateral C underframe; and a box disposed below said desk top, said box configured to be open to a user side of the desk and carried by said two crossbars that interconnect said two identical lateral C underframes of said desk frame in a transverse direction of the desk and disposed above a lower edge of said box.
 20. The desk according to claim 19, wherein the desk is a pupil desk.
 21. A stackable desk, comprising: a desk top; and a desk frame having two identical lateral C underframes disposed below said desk top and each having a connecting section and two desk legs interconnected by said connecting section, said two identical lateral C underframes are respectively disposed laterally outside said desk top, said two desk legs of said two identical lateral C underframes respectively continuously diverge in a direction away from said desk top at least in an end region averted from said desk top, said two identical lateral C underframes can be moved relative to said desk top in a transverse direction of the desk between a laterally pulled-out stacking position outside said desk top and a pushed-in position of use inside said desk top.
 22. The desk according to claim 21, wherein the desk is a pupil desk. 